THE GRANITE HARBOUR EXPEDITION 397 



then we judged the sledge might do it. I expect it would 

 have sunk like a stone if the ice had given way ; but we had 

 to get over here, or nowhere. 



The snow came down thickly now, and we plugged ahead 

 by compass for the small Piedmont Tongue, where we had 

 been held up two days on our arrival. Suddenly we seemed 

 to run into a snow slope, and by a mighty expenditure of 

 energy we got the sledge up on to the tongue, and were safely 

 on fixed ice for the time. 



We soon got the tent pitched, for there was not much 

 wind, and had some tea. I will quote my diary. 



" We were all in a cold sweat, for the work is very hard, 

 and yet you don't keep warm. However, we got into our 

 bags, and were soon warm, if damp. The blizzard was but 

 temporary, and about 4 p.m. it blew over to the west. I 

 crossed the Tongue to see the descent on the other side. It 

 was about five feet down a steep snow slope. Beyond was a 

 narrow shear crack with two seals ; but the big crack at the 

 end of the tongue went further east. We pulled over the 

 glacier and down the slope past the seals without difficulty. 

 Then on a little further, and saw a crack to our right. 



" It seemed only about a foot wide, and I was testing this 

 weak spot with the ski stick, when the foot of soft snow on 

 which I was standing collapsed, and I went into the water. 

 Luckily I grabbed Deb's hand, and Forde and Gran got my 

 harness. I was jerked out like a cork from a bottle, and was 

 never so near flying. None saw the others pull, and they 

 thought I felt very light. We plugged on to the east, and 

 came to the main wavy crack, an ugly thing, thirty feet across, 

 of mushy water. Luckily this also narrowed at the bend, 

 and after some searching we pulled over him also." 



I was getting thoroughly tired here. However, we could 

 see our destination at last, and so pushed on. A keen wind 

 came up from the south-west, and swept over the one hundred 

 feet glacier wall to the south, driving snow across our course. 

 We crossed a little crack which Debenham thought was new 

 since the snowfall. To our left were many birds, about a 

 mile away, and black patches of ominous appearance were 

 showing. Debenham climbed on the sledge, and was sure 

 it was open water, and I agreed ; but we couldn't do anything, 

 and pushed on. "I got some relief for my tired legs by 



